Container end structure



Dec. 25, 1951 H. A. SCOTT ETAL 2,579,974

CONTAINER END STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 29, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet J.

INVENTOR. a /1017714. Sqa/t y John- 'l l/hybket GM, WyF-M ATTORNEY-5' Dec. 25, 195] sco -r ETAL 2,579,974

CONTAINER END STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 29, 1947 :s Sheefs-S'neet 2 INVENTOR. a flat-1304360 Bub/m w Lyaawr W, W M

ATTORNEY-5' Dec. 25, 1951 H. A. SCOTT ETAL 2,579,974

CONTAINER END STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 29, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. f/ny/l'cofl dz/m w. qmpeiw W W K M ATTOR/VEKS Patented Dec. 25, 1951 CONTAINER END STRUCTURE Harry A. Scott and John W. Spieker, Van Wert, Ohio, assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 29, 1947, Serial-No. 782,864

1 Claim. 1

Our invention relates to a container end structure. It has to do, more particularly, with a container structure of the type wherein the closure can be completely removed to form a completely open end so as to permit access readily to the interior thereof. It relates specifically to the structure of the end of the body portion of the container, the structure of the head, and the structure of the retaining means, all of which cooperate with each other to produce a desirable container end structure.

At present, a popular type of container comprises a substantially cylindrical body portion which is made of fiber board or the like and which has an open end that is adapted to receive a closure or head structure which can be removed and replaced with ease. The extreme end of the fiber body portion is embraced by a metal band which is firmly secured thereto by bending the body portion and band together to form an internal bead and an external groove. A metal head fits over the upper edge of the body portion and cooperating metal band and is removably clamped in place by a split retaining ring which has a portion engaging the head and a portion extending into said external groove. This ring is usually provided with means for expanding and contracting it around the container end so as to permit removal of the head or to clamp the head in container closing position.

The main object of our invention is to provide a container structure of the general type indicated above havinga number of improved struc tural features.

Containers of this general type are usually 5 made of fiber board formed of a plurality of wound convolutions of heavy paper. The thickness of the wall of the body portion of the container is varied, in order to make the container suitable for various purposes, by varying the number of convolutions or laminations in the wall. We have designed our container end structure in such a manner that regardless of the thickness of the container wall, the closure head will be tightly clamped in firm sealing position by the retaining or clamping ring without changing the dimensions of the head or ring to compensate for changes in thickness of the container wall.

The clamping ring of our container end structure is so designed that when it is contracted into position on the end of the container, it presents a flat vertically disposed outer surface. Consequently, when two or more of these containers are disposed side-by-side, the rings of adjacent containers will have their fiat surfaces contact- 2 ing with each other and, due to these flat surfaces, one ring will not tend to ride up upon the other, which would tend to damage such rings.

The preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our container end structure.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail in perspective of a portion of the container end structure, showing the cooperating structure of the body portion, head and retaining ring.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1 through the cooperating structure of the body portion, head and retaining ring.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing how certain dimensions of the cooperating structure remain constant, even if the thickness of the container wall is varied, and, consequently, the head is always effectively and firmly sealed and clamped on the container body.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4,

- showing a gask t in position between the head and upp"r end of the container body.

Figure 6 is an elevational view showing two containers, embodying our invention, disposed side-by-side and indicating how the flat vertical surfaces of the retaining rings contact each other.

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of the retaining ring and the attached lever means for ex pending and contracting it.

Figure 8 is a plan View of the structure of Figure 7, illustrating, by dotted lines, the initial movement of the lever outwardly to expand the ring.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 and illustrating the arrangement of pivots which makes the ring-operating lever means self-locking.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along line l0l 0 of Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the split clamping ring and associated lever means showing the latter in ring expanding condition.

In the drawings, in Figure 1, we have illustrated a container comprising a body 20 which may be made of fiber board or other similar material. In the container shown, the body is mainl of cylindrical form and has an open upper end. This end is adapted to receive a metal head 2| which, when positioned thereon, will serve to completely close and seal the container. When the head is removed, the end of the container will be completely open. The other or bottom end of the body of the container i preferably closed by other suitable means but may have an identical head and associated structure for scaling it if desired.

A metal band 22 is applied to the upper end of the container body in order to reinforce the fiber wall thereof and to provide means for cooperating with the split metal retaining ring 23 in securing the metal head 2| in position on the body 20. The metal band 22 extends completely around the container body and is comparatively wide or high. The metal band is applied to the body of the container and then the band and the body are formed by suitable dies to produce the structure shown in the drawings.

The upper edge of the metal band 22 is curled around the upper edge of the fiber wall of the body 20, as shown in Figure 2, to form an annular continuous bead 24 which projects inwardly and which is circular in cross-section. The extreme edge of the metal band is forced into the inner surface of the fiber wall, as indicated at 25. The metal band and fiber wall are further formed or bent simultaneously to form an external continuous annular groove 26 and an inwardly projecting continuous annular rib or shoulder 21. Thus, it will be apparent that the metal band 22 will reinforce the end of the fiber body 20 and will be firmly secured thereto.

The metal head is so formed that it has an annular inner portion 28 that fits within the upper open end of the container body and an outer flange portion 29 that extends downwardly over the vertical flat outer surface 30 of the metal band 22, as shown best in Figure 2. The metal head includes the central disk-like portion 3| (Figure 1) which is connected at its outer edge to the annular portion 28. The portion 28 is con tinuous and is of substantially U cross-section, being formed by the downwardly and outwardly inclined flange 32 and the upwardly and outwardly directed flange 33. The flange 32 is joined to disk 3| by a pair of inner curved annular reinforcin ribs 34 which are at the same level as the outer curved rib 35 that serves to joint flange 33 to flange 29.

The upwardly and outwardly directed flange 33 is provided with a vertically disposed lower sealing portion 36 that merely frictionally engages the inner or vertical surface of the inwardly projecting rib 21 formed in the wall of the container body. The flange 33 is further provided with an outwardly inclined upper sealing portion 37 which definitely rests on the inner curved side of the bead 24. Thus, as shown best in Figure 3, the main sealing contact between the head and container body will be along an annular line indicated by the arrow 38 in Figure 3, which is the line of contact between bead 24 and upper inclined sealing portion 31, but there will also be sealing contact along an annular line indicated by the arrow 39 in Figure 3, which is the line of contact between rib 21 and lower vertical sealing portion 36. The portion 36 will be so located relative to rib 2'! that it will frictionally engage therewith when the head is positioned on the container and the annular portion 28 is inserted within the rib 21.

The head is so designed and proportioned that when the upper inclined sealing portion 31 engages bead 24, the horizontal connecting wall 49 between sealing portions 36 and 31 will be spaced above and substantially parallel with the upper surface 4| of the rib 21. Furthermore, the vertical outer flange 29 will extend downwardly over the vertical surface 30 of the band 22 and will be substantially parallel therewith and spaced slightly therefrom. This spacing insures that the main sealing contact will be produced always by portion 31 seating on head 24. The extreme lower edge of flange 26 is bent outwardly and upwardly into contact with the main part thereof, as indicated at 42, to serve as reinforcement. When the cover is placed on the container body the downward movement thereof into the container is limited solely by the wedging engagement between the tapered or inclined portion 37 and the bead 24. This insures a very tight seal regardless of variations in the thickness of the fiber wall of the container.

In order to secure the head 2| in position on the container when desired, the split metal clamping ring or retaining ring 23'is provided, as previously indicated. This ring is of annular form and is split at one point having lever actuated expanding and contracting locking means 43, associated with the split ends, as shown best in Figures 7 to 11.

As indicated best in Figures 2 and 3, the ring 23 is mainly of channel shape in transverse crosssection. It comprises a main vertically disposed fiat band portion 44 at its outer side which has an inwardly extending horizontal flange 45 on its upper edge and an inwardly extending horizontal flange 46 on its lower edge. The upper flange 45 extends over and engages the upper curved surface of rib 35 of the cover 2|. The lower flange 46 extends into groove 26, in the metal band 22 and body 20, and engages the horizontal surface 4'! of land 22 which forms the top wall of the groove. The extreme inner edge of this flange 46 is curled downwardly and outwardly to form reinforcing rib 48 which is disposed at the inner side of the groove when the retaining ring is in contracted condition on the container. The flanges 45 and 46 of the metal ring are spaced apart such a distance that they will slip inwardly into position over their respective cooperating clamping surfaces, which are also metal, and will frictionally engage such surfaces so as to clamp the head on the container. In other words, a portion of the metal head and a portion of the container body are clamped between the flanges 45 and 46 of the retaining ring when it is in contracted or clamping position, which will occur when the lever means 43 is actuated, as will later appear. The annular areas where this clamping contact occurs are indicated by the arrows 49 and 56 in Figure 3. At this time, the vertical band 44 of ring 23 will contact reinforcing part 42 on flange 29 of the head.

The head 2| and the ring 23 will be of standard dimensions for a particular size or diameter container. However, for different uses, the same diameter container may have its wall thicknesses varied to save paper. This is accomplished by varying the number of plies or convolutions of paper in the container wall, as previously indicated. However, even with this variation in wall thickness, the head structure will be clamped on the container body in firmly sealed condition by the clamping ring 23 without changing its dimensions or the dimensions of the head. This is due to the fact that certain dimensions of the container body are maintained constant, even though its wall thickness is varied.

As shown best in Figures 3 and 4, the diam eter of the bead 24 indicated by the double arrow 5|; the vertical distance, indicated by the double arrow 52, between the top surface of such bead and the horizontal surface and the horizontal distance, indicated by the double arrow 53, between the inner surface of rib 21 and the outer surface 44 of band 22, are always maintained constant regardless of the thickness of the fiber material in the wall of the container. The manner in which this thickness can vary is illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 4. The dotted line 54 indicates a container wall which is thicker and the dotted line 55, indicates a container wall which is thinner. However, the dimensions indicated above remain constant. This insures that regardless of the container wall thickness, the main seal will be along the line 39 where the vertical portion 33 of head 24 contacts the inwardly extending rib 21 of the fiber body 20, and also along the line 38 where the head 2! contacts the bead 2-4 and that the head and body of the container will always be clamped tightly between flanges 45 and Q6 of the retaining ring. The head is so designed and dimensioned that even when the contained body wall is of maximum thickness, the horizontal portion 40 of the head will be spaced a substantial distance above the horizontal surface 4| of rib 21.

are constant, the vertical distance, indicated by double arrow 52a, between the top of rib of the cover 2| and surface 41 will always be con stant. This insures that flanges 45 and 45 will always clamp the adjacent portions of the head and container. If the container and head were so designed that wall were seated on horizontal surface 4| of rib 21, variations in thickness of the fiber material would cause variations in distance 520. and would result in improper clamping and sealing of the head on the container.

In Figure 5, we have illustrated how a gasket 56 of rubber or other suitable resilient material can be disposed within the rib 35 of the cover between it and the top surface or the head 24 on the upper edge of the container body. This gasket will serve to make the seal between the head and the container fluid-tight.

Since the outer surface of rim 44 of the retaining ring 23 is flat and is vertically disposed, when two containers are disposed side-by-side, as shown in Figure 6, the flat surfaces of the adjacent rings will contact flatly with each other. Thus, there will be no tendency for one ring to ride up upon the other with the resultant disadvantages.

The lever-operated means 43 for expanding and contracting the ring 23 is illustrated best in Figures 7 to 11. It will be noted that one end of the ring is preferably provided with a tongue 51 that extends towards the other end and is adapted to extend between the flanges 45 and 46 and behind the rim 44 of such other end when the ring is constracted. However, this tongue may be omitted from a standpoint of economy, if desired, without seriously affecting the operation of the device. This tongue 5'! is offset inwardly, as at 58 (Figure 11) so that when the tongue does overlap the other end of the ring, upon contacting the ring, the rim portions of the adjacent ends will be flush, as shown best in Figures 8 and 9. Furthermore, the tongue 51 is of such height, that the flanges 45 and 4B of adjacent ends of the ring will be at the same levels as shown best in Figure 7.

The end of the ring which carries the tongue 51 has a hinge strap 59 shown riveted by rivets 60, although it may be welded, to the outer Since the vertical distance 52 and the bead diameter 5| surface of the rim '44. The strap is disposed along the lower edge of the rim and extends to a point spaced slightly short of the offset 58. This strap is formed of a single strip of metal which is bent upon itself in such a manner as to form a pivot pin-receiving loop 61 which is vertically disposed.

A lever 62 is adapted to be pivoted to the strap 59. This lever is curved throughout its length so as toconform to the curve of the ring 23, along which it will lie when in locking position. The lever is of relatively flat cross-section and has a reinforcing flange 63 on its lower edge extending substantially its full length and being directed inwardly. When the lever is swung inwardly, this flange will extend beneath the lower flange 46 of the ring 23. At its upper edge, the lever is formed with a reinforcing bend 54 of L'- shape cross-section, the vertical part 65 thereof contacting the rim 44 of the ring when the lever is in locking position, as shown best in Figure 8. As shown in Figure 7, the top edge of portion 65 will be at the same level or slightly below the top surface of upper flange 45 of the ring. The horizontal flange 66 (Figure 11) of portion 64 at the inner end of the lever is continued to form a hinge tab 61 while the lower flange 63 is similarly continued to form a hinge tab 68 which extends above and below, respectively, the pinreceiving loop 6| on strap 59. These tabs are provided with aligning openings which receive the vertically disposed hinge pin 59 that is disposed in the loop. Thus, the lever 62 is hinged to the ring for swinging movement horizontally. When swung inwardly into contact with the ring, the flanges 63 and B6 of the lever straddle the strap 59.

The opposite end of the ring 23 is provided with a strap iii which is practically identical with strap 59 and is secured to the ring in the same manner. This strap 18 is located at the lower edge of the rim 44 and with its loop ll vertically disposed close to the end of the ring. This loop H receives the vertically disposed end 12'of a wire buckle 13. The two horizontal arms 14 of this buckle extend toward the lever 62 and are provided with inwardly directed pivot portions 75 at their opposite ends. Those portions extend through and are locked in a pair of aligning openings it which are formed in the flanges 63 and 65 of the lever intermediate its ends. These openings are preferably located such a distance from the hinge point of the lever and the ring that the pivot portions 16 will be beyond the upper part of strap 59 when the lever is in looking position. Thus, lever 62 is connected to the other end of the ring by buckle 73.

It will be apparent that with this lever struc ture, the ring 23 can be expanded or contracted. Assuming the lever is in unlocking position, as shown in Figure 11, when it is swung inwardly towards the ring, the buckle 73 will serve to pull the one ring end towards the end carrying the lever. The tongue 51 will move into position within the flanges of the end of the ring to which the buckle is connected. As the lever nears its final position along the ring, the horizontal portions 74 of the buckle will lie above the flange 65 and below the flange 63 of the lever, as shown best in Figure 7. The lever means will be selflocking in operative position along the ring, since, as shown in Figure 9, the various pivots are properly located to accomplish this. It will be apparent that a line Tl passing through the axes of pivots l6 and 12 will be inside the axis of the pivot69; As the lever is swung outwardlm. as indicated in Figure 8, the ends of the ring will be forced apart by cooperation of lever 62 and buckle I3.

For positively locking the lever in position against the ring, we may provide a latch 18. This latch is pivoted for vertical swinging movement to the end of the ring carrying the lever, at a point which will lie beyond but closely adjacent the end of the lever when it is in its inner position in contact with the ring. The latch is provided with a flat button portion 19 which contacts flatly with and is pivoted to the rim part 44 of the ring 23 by a pivot pin 80. The latch is provided with a lever-engaging flange 8| which is offset outwardly relative to button 19 so that it can pass over the end of the lever 62. The flange 8| is reinforced by an integral flange 82 at right angles thereto which terminates at a point 83 so as not to interfere with downward swinging or the latch. The end of the lever is provided with a flattened area 84, so that it will lie closer to rim 44, over which the flange 8| of the latch will pass so as to engage the lever at this area and keep it in its inner position. Within this area is located the depression 85 into which a teat 86, inwardly struck from flange 8| f the latch, will snap when the latch is swung over the lever. The flange 82 at its outer end is provided with a depending tab 87 which, when the latch is in operative position, will be alongside a similar tab 88 depending from flange 63 of lever 62. These tabs will be provided with openings for receiving a wire seal. When lever 63 is in operative position and the latch is swung over it to lock it in such position, the structure will appear as in Figure 10. The flange 82 of the latch will serve as a stop for limiting upward movement of latch 18, contacting the lower edge of the lever, as shown at 89 in Figure 10, before the flange 82 contacts the flange 46 on the ring. The teat 86 in depression 85 and the upper edge of flange 8| contacting the edge of area 84 of the lever, also cooperate to position the latch in this manner.

It-will be apparent from the above that we have provided a novel and desirable container end structure. The closure head will be tightly clamped in sealed position regardless of the thickness of the fiber material forming the wall of the body, due to the fact that certain dimensions of the container body are contant regardless of the thickness of the fiber material. The retaining ring presents a fiat vertical surface for engaging a similar surface on an adjacent container. The lever-operated means for'contra-ct= ing and expanding the ring is flat and when in locking position will lie closely along the ring in an out-of-the-way position. The latch will serve to keep the lever in this position, even if the container is subjected to abuse.

Various other advantages will be apparent.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

A container comprising a cylindrical fiber body, an annular reenforcing metal band closely fitting the outer upper portion of said body and having the upper end thereof fitting around and closely housing the end portion of the body so as to form an annular bead-like closure bearing, the lower portion of said band and the body Walls opposing the same being formed inwardly to provide an internal annular rib having a predetermined inner diameter and an external annular groove, a metal closure having a peripheral flange overlying and spaced from the upper end of the reinforcing metal band, said cover having inwardly of the flange an annular depression forming asubstantially vertical wall, dimensioned so as to make frictional engagement with the innermost part of said rib, said vertical wall of the cover connecting with an annular outwardly tapering portion terminating in said cover flange. said tapering portion being dismensioned so as to make wedging sealing engagement with the said bead-like closure bearing on the reinforcing band, said cover contacting said body only at said closure bearing and said innermost part of said rib so that downward movement of the cover onto the container body is limited solely by said wedging engagement of said tapering portion with said closure bearing.

HARRY A. SCOTT. JOHN W. SPIEKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,681,150 Vischer, Jr. Aug. 14, 1928 2,162,396 Eggerss June 13, 1939 2,194,162 Conner Mar. 19, 1940 2,265,167 Hothersall Dec. 9, 1941 2,299,616 Eggerss Oct. 20, 1942 2,303,625 Ellis Dec. 1, 1942 2,304,911 Harpold Dec. 15, 1942 2,326,209 Eggerss Aug. 10, 1943 2,391,774 Eggerss Dec. 25, 1945 

